Okay, so I'm quite new to the forum world so go easy on me! I bought a Del Sol a couple weeks ago with some kind of trannsmission or clutch issue. I've been looking on here trying to get some idea of what it could be but I'm having a hard time finding someone who's had the exact same symptoms as I have. I finally decided to just ask. I've seen some possibilities but maybe someone can help me out.

Background on the car: 1995 Del Sol Si, 266,000 miles, D16Z6 1.6L SOHC Vtec engine (previous owner said engine has about 100,000 miles on it, but honestly, I haven't seen proof-he's supposed to be looking for the paperwork on it), "S20" 5 speed manual transmission with what may or may not be a short shifter. Previous owner also said he put a new clutch in within the last 6 months.

Issues:

-The first thing I noticed was that it was hard to get into gear. Feels almost normal going into 1st at a stop, but still a little harder than what I think of as normal. It's more uncooperative going into 2nd, a little uncooperative in 3rd, 4th and 5th. Downshifting is not an option, especially going from 3-2. All gears are harder to downshift to but 2nd feels like I'm hitting a wall. I can eventually get it down to 2nd if I'm going pretty slow and sometimes if I rev it I can get it in a little easier too. That doesn't always work though.

-There's also a whining noise I can barely hear only in neutral when I push the clutch down. This does get a little louder when driving.

-The last issue is kind of a crackling/rattling I'm hearing. It seems to do it right when the car starts (starting in 1st gear). I started it today, it crackled/rattled for a couple seconds, then stopped. Then sometimes when I step on the clutch and put it in gear or in neutral I get the crackling, but it comes and goes. Sometimes I can put it in gear and there's no crackling.

The only thing that's been done as far as transmission stuff is a new slave cylinder. I don't know if the proper tranny fluid is in it so tomorrow we're replacing the brakes and radiator on it and while that's being done my boyfriend is going to drain the tranny fluid and replace with Honda MTF.


I'm trying to figure out my best option (by "best" I mean cheapest!). If anyone has any thoughts, I'd appreciate it!

 

I know with old fluid it can make a car shift weird, or low fluid it might be leaking slowly see how much drains out. Other than that the sound could be the clutch or bearing that's worn. There are some test you can do. One is the hold the clutch half a inch to the floor and shift between 1st and reverse and see if it grinds if so the clutch parts are worn, two is to push the clutch in wait about 5 seconds to 7 and shift to reverse and if it grinds it would show clutch or parts worn and the last is to put the car in 3rd rev the motor to 3k and slowly let off and see if it stumbles or not. These are just some easy ways to check your clutch from some transmission guys told me years ago.

 

We just went out and tried everything suggested.

1. hold the clutch half a inch to the floor and shift between 1st and reverse and see if it grinds. We did that and no grinding.

2. push the clutch in wait about 5 seconds to 7 and shift to reverse. Did that and no grinding.

3. put the car in 3rd rev the motor to 3k and slowly let off and see if it stumbles or not. Okay, did that too and it moved fine, no jerking.

So is the thinking that the clutch is okay?

 

Try to start moving the car from second gear instead of 1st. If it grabs, you may have an internal transmission problem. If it slips, the clutch is most likely going out. Also, check the cable adjustment under the hood.

 

Also... If it doesn't appear to be the clutch, the whining and rattling seems to occur most commonly when the input shaft bearing has gone out.

 

ummm as far as im concerend this is a s20 trans which has no cable for clutch usage..

 

Yes, Tico you're right. It has a hydraulic clutch.

And we can move the car starting in 2nd and 3rd with no problem, it grabs fine.

Thanks for everyone's input, keep it coming!

 

worn disk. replace entire setup with new pressure plate and clutch disk. problem solved